A porous support core is prepared from a synthetic polymeric material, which support core is adapted for use with disposable semirigid filter tubes, which core comprises a plurality of individual elements arranged in a stacked interlocking relationship, the elements so structured to form an axial passageway in the stacke elements and flow passages in the wall of the core so formed. The individual disc elements are characterized by a central aperture to form an axial passageway, projecting partitions on one surface to form the flow passage and hook elements on the opposite surface to interlock individual disc elements.